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Gold/Mining/Energy : Procyon Biopharma Inc.

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To: suncasper who wrote (352)10/20/2003 8:11:35 PM
From: thebeach  Read Replies (1) of 356
 
Reuters
Procyon Biopharma jumps on U.S. anti-HIV patent
Monday October 20, 12:00 pm ET

MONTREAL, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Shares in Procyon Biopharma Inc. (Toronto:PBP.TO - News)
jumped 19 percent after the Canadian biotech firm said it had been granted a U.S. patent
covering protease inhibitors for HIV/AIDS treatment.

Protease inhibitors are an important
part of the drug-treatment therapy
commonly used for AIDS patients.

Shares in the Montreal-based
company rose 16 Canadian cents or
19.05 percent to C$1.00 as more than
two million shares changed hands on
the Toronto Stock Exchange (News -
Websites) .

Procyon's stock value has doubled
since the beginning of the year.

The company said on Monday the
U.S. patent covered compounds that
have been shown to inhibit the activity
of HIV aspartyl protease, an enzyme
essential for the virus's maturation and infectivity.

"The patent also includes the protease inhibitor PL-100, Procyon's drug candidate that has
demonstrated activity against HIV strains containing multiple mutations in the protease gene,"
Procyon said in a statement.

The company said research showed PL-100, a next-generation inhibitor, was active against
HIV/AIDS strains that were resistant to current protease inhibitors.

"As nearly three-quarters of HIV patients on drug therapy are experiencing drug or multi-drug
resistance, and about 20 percent of the newly diagnosed patients are now presenting with drug
resistance, new protease inhibitors are constantly needed," said Hans Mader, president and
chief executive officer of Procyon Biopharma.

Mader said PL-100 should benefit from an "extensive commercial life".
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